SOLNA, Sweden--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aerocrine AB (OMX Nordic Exchange: AERO) announces that a clinical trial
published in The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care
Medicine shows that FeNO-testing is an excellent tool to identify
patients that don’t adhere to treatment.

The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine published
on December 1, 2012, the results of a clinical study done at Queen’s
University in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The results show how fractional
exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurement is an excellent tool for
identifying patients who did not use their prescribed inhaled
corticosteroids, i.e. did not adhere to treatment. Identifying
non-adherence to medication is important because it allows improved
patient characterization and tailoring of asthma management to
individual needs, which, in turn, results in better patient outcomes at
lower cost. Aerocrine’s patented FeNO test, with the NIOX MINO® device,
was used in the study.

The UK study is entitled: The Utility of Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide
Suppression in Identification of Nonadherence in Difficult Asthma; its
purpose was to identify a test for non-adherence using fractional
exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) suppression after directly observed inhaled
corticosteroid treatment. The study concluded that the FeNO suppression
test can identify whether or not patients use their inhaled
corticosteroid therapy properly and if patients, who fill their
prescriptions, took their medicine. Non-adherence is common and ranges
from 35–65%.

An editorial in the same journal stated that there are studies which
suggest that FeNO measurements may be used to confirm non-adherence with
inhaled corticosteroid therapy in children. But no study has yet
investigated the same measurements in adults. The editorial concludes
that “the strength of the study justify the introduction of this test in
clinical practice”.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airways disease that is characterized
by symptoms including wheezing and difficulty in breathing. Asthma is
one of the world’s most common and costly diseases; it affects 8–10% of
the population and is associated with enormous healthcare expenditures
that include direct and indirect costs. The disease has no cure, and
proper diagnosis and management are crucial for improved quality of life
for the patients. FeNO measurement enables physicians to better assess
and manage patients with allergic airway inflammation.

Aerocrine AB is a medical products company focused on improved
management and care of patients with inflammatory airway diseases such
as Asthma. Within this sector, Aerocrine is the world leader. Aerocrine
markets NIOX MINO®, which enables fast and reliable point-of-care
measurement of airway inflammation. This product plays a critical role
in more effective diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients
affected with inflammatory airway diseases. Aerocrine is based in Sweden
with subsidiaries in the US, Germany, Switzerland and the UK. Aerocrine
shares have been listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange since 2007
(AERO-B.ST). For more information please visit www.aerocrine.com
and www.niox.com.